Olivia and Edward Lereux live a quiet life with their chocolate Border collie, Axel in a picturesque cottage flanked by Maine’s blustery cliffs, far from town and people. Outwardly, their lives appear normal, but they’re not ordinary people. The Lereux family is cursed with something that has claimed their ancestors many years.When Ravine Lereux receives a distressing letter from her Uncle … Uncle Edward, she must return to a place she swore never to return, a place that’s haunted by something, an abnormal presence she feared as a child. Now she must face it again. As she races to the aid of her aunt and uncle, she makes an unsettling discovery about herself and her family.
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Ravine Lereux is a short story published in 2019 by E. Denise Billups. I’ve previously read two of her full-length novels, and I have her third on my Kindle to read this spring. Before diving into that last one, I decided to sample one of her short stories, hence today’s review. There are lots of ways to categorize this one, including dark fiction, Gothic, reminiscent of Edgar Allan Poe, fantasy / paranormal, creepy, intense, lyrical… in the end, it was such an amazing read, I can’t decide which attribute to highlight the most. So… I’ll just say it was fantabulesome (fantastic, fabulous & awesome).
To begin with, I should say I listened to this story. It is 50 minutes long on audiobook, but given how short it was, and my unfamiliarity with this format, it made sense to start here. The narrator was excellent; she mastered the pacing and tone, provided distinct voices, added edge to story’s unfolding drama, and kept me motivated to listen. I will say one thing though… as good as the narrator is, I honestly think this is the type of story you should read before listening to it. Billups has a highly adept way with words… lyrical is the best way to describe them, but it goes much further and I’m not even sure I can explain how.
Her vocabulary is astronomical. She’s chosen words that make you see, hear, or feel what the word means. Her writing style leaps off the page and pulls you into the tale as if you’re experiencing it… and this is exactly why I would recommend reading it first, then listening to it. So often, phrases would echo in my ear and I was caught up thinking about them. I had to stop and rewind to catch what I missed, as it was all too intriguing. When an author can do that, you know she’s mega-talented.
I enjoyed the plot very much too. Given it’s a short story, and you already have a description, all I’ll say is that it’s told from the POV of 2 characters, Olivia and her niece, Ravine. They have an obsession with birds (not in a bad way) and as the story unfolds, you will learn why. You can’t help but feel the similarities with the style of Poe’s The Raven, and this I mean as a compliment. The stories are nothing alike, but you will feel similar things.
The story had a bit of a personal connection, as it takes place around Bar Harbor, Maine. I was just there in the fall, and so it was easy to picture the drive from NH to Maine and visualize the cliffs. Ravine must discover a secret, always one of my favorite plot themes, and she is dark and light all at once — another reason I love a book or tale. So… you definitely can’t go wrong with this one. If you have about an hour of available reading time and you’re eager to read a book again and again to understand and rave about all the layers, this is your next read!
Ravine Lereux is full of incredible imagery and suspense that feels very Gothic and eerie. The story is a gorgeous mix of European folklore, French Creole superstition and it speaks of a powerful curse that follows the Lereux bloodline.
The author offers the reader two points of view: Ravine’s and Olivia the matriarch, her beloved aunt. Which is helpful to understand exactly how their family curse unfolds and how it all works.
It’s dark, mysterious and imaginative. I read it three times in a row and the images grew more and more frightening in my mind as I “saw” the unforgettable, final scene with Olivia in vivid color and even dreamed of it the next evening.
Ravine is a modern, female character that lives a busy life in the city, but the guardians who raised her; a loving aunt and uncle live and work far away in a remote, natural wilderness.
The disconnect most of us have with family when we try for success away from our birthplace is reflected on by Ravine as she decides what she might do to change this. The guilt one experiences and worry for those we’ve left behind is quite realistic and relatable to my own experience.
After a bizarre situation one morning with her lover, the young woman is convinced her aunt and uncle have been more than remiss in telling her everything she needs to know about her origins and also, what exactly “it” is that waits in her future.
Days go by and she knows that something is terribly wrong after a letter comes, then follows with a feeling of dread — strong instinct tells Ravine she must take action.
There is a deep sense of time as metaphor — a dark shadow overhead, offering an unspeakable truth that binds the reader to the character’s plight upon the reveal of the curse. There is a palpable fear rippling in the air as the sounds of wild birds and nature grow louder after incoming fog drapes the cliff surrounding Ravine’s childhood home and we finally understand everything that led up to this moment.
If you’re anything like me, and adore dark fairy tales or any of the original Brothers Grimm stories, you will love this one!
I’ve read all of the author’s work and always look forward to reading her next story!
I would stand in line to read anything written by E. Denise Billups. She has the rare ability to blend beautiful writing, compelling, complex characters, and an engaging storyline. In the short story Ravine Lereux, Billups brings these elements together to elicit every emotion with some of the most powerful being fear and anticipation. Ravine Lereax is a story about a family and a curse seen through the eyes of two women, one young, beautiful and about to come to an awakening and one old, fading but about to find acceptance in transformation.
The author’s pacing is on point as usual and an alternating third-person limited POV gives you a unique perspective of what’s in store for young Ravine and her aunt Olivia. Make no mistake this one is a psychological horror story on the line of a Stephen King or Alfred Hitchcock, coupled with the flair and elegance only Billups can deliver. It ended way too fast and the prose was so lyrical, I couldn’t resist reading it twice. I would be remiss in not including a passage here. Billups’ work is truly literary and at the same time cinematic in its rendering. Behold…
“Swirling gauzy tendrils swallow the jeep, smothering views ghostly before freeing the car to finer mist. The incline flattens and then dips, revealing a dark mass drifting beyond a full moon over Frenchman Bay. The white cottage arises a surreal three-dimensional painting. Amber and tilleul heads tremble with the breeze, shaking foliage across the shadowy home. Windows shuttered laurel green, appear open-eyed, guarding the yard. The sun-bleached falcate timbered porch grins eerie in headlights.”
I loved this story and thought it was beautifully written. I had a suspicion about what was happening, but greatly enjoyed the telling. Some prose I found so lyrical, I had to re-read merely for the beautiful satisfaction. I’m looking forward to reading more from E. Denise Billings.
Ravine Lereux is returning to her childhood home in Maine. The aunt and uncle who raised her are not answering the phone. Feelings of dread weigh on her mind as she drives–a cryptic message from her uncle only increases the feeling that something has happened. She doesn’t know what she may find when she arrives at their house on the cliffs of Maine.
Aunt Olivia and Uncle Edward are both scientists involved in regenerative studies at the research institute. They know the Lereux family’s dark secrets and history but have sheltered their beloved niece. It’s only a matter of time before Ravine learns her destiny. Will the aunt and uncle who love her like a daughter be able to prepare her for what’s to come?
Author Billups takes us on a supernatural journey as a young woman discovers the secrets of her past and the paths of her unique future. A chilling read, perfect for the season, highly recommended!